“Of course. I’ll make you a whole scrapbook.”

“Is that how you’re going to pass the time? Yeesh. You ought to bring someone up there to keep you preoccupied.”

I wince. “Dad…”

“Can’t stay single forever, Orlie.”

I check my watch.

“Getting tired of me?”

“No, I just have to meet Hunter to grab some things. I don’t want to miss him before he heads up to Burbank, or else I’m going to be stuck in afternoon traffic.”

“Mhm. Then you go. I’ll finish this –“ Dad grabs my unfinished Bloody Mary and starts to suck it down.

I laugh, giving him a pat on the back. “Take it easy, alright?”

I look at the bartender, an old guy named Fred I’ve known since I was a toddler. “You call him a car if he has too much Grey Goose, alright?”

Fred gives me a salute and I salute back.

Once I’m out of the clubhouse and in my car, I let out a sigh.

Where is the enjoyment in life? When are things going to change? Dad’s not letting me and I can’t seem to make it for myself. It’s like I need to be struck by lightning or something.

As long as I survived it, maybe that wouldn’t be so bad.

5

KIRA

I perusethe aisles of Quentin’s Roadside Market, picking up various foodstuffs and ingredients I’d never eat if I wasn’t in the middle of nowhere without another grocery store in sight.

I’m not trying to be fussy. I’ve just gotten used to my organic ingredients and health foods. Here, there are only national brand names. Boxes of Frosted Flakes and Nature Valley Granola Bars, jars of Jiff Peanut Butter, and don’t even get me started on the produce.

Living in California, I’m spoiled.

But I’m about four hours away, in the mountains of Nevada, and everything is different out here.

That’s why it’s nice to get away. Be somewhere new, where I have to be out of my comfort zone and adapt.

This is what I do every time I start a new project. With my unlimited vacation time, I go away for a month or so and clear my head, get started on some abstract ideas, so that I can come back to the office reinvigorated and ready to take on the challenge.

After winding through the store. I make my game plan. There are locally grown veggies which I snatch up, then I grab some frozen fruit, eggs, milk, meats, cheeses. Everything I can get myhands on. And right before I hit the cash register, I grab a pack of batteries.

For one, you can never have too many batteries.

For another, I have a brand new vibrator I’d like to try out with one of those sucking heads and it needs several batteries.

If I’m going to be up here for a whole month by myself, I’ll need some way fun to pass the time, won’t I?

Finally, time to check out. I realize halfway through the transaction I’m speaking with THE Quentin of Quentin’s Roadside Market. He’s a lovely man with a very broad smile and lots of questions.

Too bad I’m not good with questions like Amy or Harley. I always kind of shut down and give only the bare minimum of an answer.

I’ve always been shy. The glasses help with that. I can sort of hide behind them, see the world from behind the lenses rather than having to look at it with a naked eye.

It’s the way I can protect myself. Also my superpower.